Parking in Snowy Weather

It's important for us to keep main roads clear for plows and emergency vehicles during extreme weather. You will be ticketed and towed if you park on a posted snow emergency artery during a declared snow emergency.

plows and emergency vehicles

Help us keep streets open to plows and emergency vehicles by parking at least 20 feet away from intersections and no further than 1 foot from the curb. Don’t block sidewalks, fire hydrants, ramps, driveways, or the street with your vehicle.

clear your muffler

For your safety, make sure to clear all snow at least one foot around your muffler before starting your engine. Blocked mufflers can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

Plowing

We prioritize clearing main routes — like Commonwealth, Hyde Park, and Blue Hill Avenues — so emergency vehicles can get to schools, hospitals, and homes quickly. If you think your street was missed by a plow, let us know by submitting a request to 311.

Shoveling

property owners must:

clear sidewalks within three hours of snowfall ending or three hours after sunrise if it snows overnight, and

clear at least a 42-inch-wide path for wheelchairs and strollers.

Simply put, we're looking for an accessible path of travel. While the rule is three hours, we try to be reasonable for deciding when we start the clock. Our goal isn't to fine you. We just want people — especially youth and seniors — to be able to get around safely.

Shoveling Fines:

We have information on what you can expect to pay in fines each day your sidewalk is unshoveled, or if you shovel snow onto the street. We fine ourselves for City-owned properties too.

Prepare for the cold

Cold

Stay safe during extreme cold

When you know severely cold weather is coming, remember to take steps to prepare. Please also check on your elderly or disabled neighbors, and take caution when using portable heating devices like space heaters.